At Lambton Meadowview Villa on Thursday, May 20, 2021, Joanna passed away peacefully. Joanna was born in Sarnia, Ontario on October 30, 1928 and passed away on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Beloved wife of the late John “Jack” Moore (September 1, 2018) and survived by her son David Moore of Chatham, On and daughter Cathy (Hugh) Barr of Grand Bend, On. Also survived by her brother-in-law Joseph Moore, as well as several nieces and nephews, Becky (Glen) Anderson, Peter (Holly) Moore, Wendy (Mark) Kelch, MaryKae (Mike) Laing, Charlene (David) Muller, Mark (Lori) Dougherty and Derrick Dougherty, 5 step-grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren & 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brothers & sisters-in law Charles and Kay Dougherty, Ronald and Barb Dougherty, Elizabeth “Betty” Moore, Mary and Art Tennant.
Joanna was a lifelong member of Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority, having made many wonderful friendships over the years that were still ongoing to this day, especially her late cousin Janie Bice, Betty Danylchuk and Greta Wilson.
She was a wonderful baker and gardener, her flowers were always beautiful.
We would like to thank the staff at Lambton Meadowview Villa where Mom had been a resident since June 2019. They were wonderful with her, all the RN’s, RPN’s, PSW’s, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, etc. We would also like to thank Sue Brighton in her devotion before Pandemic times, bringing some of Mom’s friends up to see her along with her dog Charlie, it was the highlight of her week, it was sad when the residents couldn’t have all the visitors.
Cremation has taken place. A private family graveside service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Lambton Meadowview Villa in honour of Joanna or to charity of your choice (cheques mailed to the funeral home or made online, please). Arrangements entrusted to SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 1576 London Line, Sarnia.
I remember a time probably 40 years ago after I had quit smoking discussing with Mom the various fitness programs I was involved with and trying to encourage her to do more walking and other activities in her life. At that time she stated “What for, the cancer is going to come back and kill me anyway.” Well the cancer did not do it but old age did. She lived another 55 plus years after the breast cancer scare of 1965.
During our childhood years Dad was gone on sales trips almost every Monday to Friday and Mom was the center of the family and the glue that held us all together.
Born in Sarnia to parents Charlie Dougherty Sr. and wife Frida, she was younger by 6 years to older brother Charlie Jr., and 5 years older than youngest brother Ron. Tragedy struck early in her life when her mother died of pneumonia shortly after the birth of Ron when Mom was only 5. Charlie Sr. would never remarry but Mom always had fond memories of her grandparents, aunts and uncles, many of whom had immigrated to Ohio in the U.S. She had many fond memories of the summer trips to see the family in Ohio and remained close to the surviving relatives all of her life. In 2007, Mom, Dad, and I attended a family reunion in Zanesville Ohio and she was able to see a number of her cousins for a last time.
Neither Cathy nor I got to know our maternal grandfather given that he died when I was one, but there was one funny story I can share. When Mom was learning to drive, her Dad was the instructor. At one point, he made her nervous and she hit the gas instead of the brake and put his beloved ’36 Chevy through the end wall of their garage.
Around this same time period she was cast in a play as a member of Young Peoples at Parker Street United as one half of a romantic couple alongside a young Jack Moore. They gave a number of performances of the play at theirs and other churches in the area. Mom’s boyfriend at the time complained that her co star seemed to be getting a little too friendly and this observation turned out to be somewhat prophetic. A romance was blossoming and led to a 67 year happy union.
Like most kids, Cathy and I thought that everything Mom cooked was the best, from her cookie recipes and other baking to her turkey stuffing. When we were really young, Thursday nights when Dad was out of town dinner was hot dogs and Kraft dinner followed by a mountain of popcorn done in a covered skillet on the stove with tons of butter. It’s amazing we didn’t have a coronary even at that young age.
Mom was always very particular about her appearance and had a standing order with various hairdressers over the years on Fridays right up until the pandemic.
During the 60’s, Mom and Dad attended a lot of formal events requiring gowns and tuxedos and I always thought my Mom looked the best of all her friends.
The first time I ever saw Mom in jeans was when I flew out to Calgary when the Stampede was on in 1985 and her outfit also included western boots, shirt and a cowboy hat.
She was initially very upset about that move to Calgary because they had just returned from a stint in Edmonton 7 years earlier and they had built a custom home with a pool that we all loved. That house became the family cottage almost every weekend during the summer and both Mom and Dad loved hosting with many of our cousins being party regulars. Eventually she adapted well to Calgary and they made a number of new friends that would be part of their lives in years to come.
Once during the late 80’s, Dad took me out to see a house he was looking at that was for sale on the lake near Forest. When I asked him if he was really considering making an offer, he said “Your mother would never move this far away from her sorority sisters. Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority was as important to Mom as family and many of her friendships made there have been lifelong. Key among them, Janie Bice, Betty Danylchuk, and Greta Wilson.
Again, when we were small, we took many family vacations with the Bice family sharing cottages. At some time during the vacation, Mom would have to visit the bathroom in the night and would run into Norm Bice in the hall doing the same thing. The only difference, Norm never wore pajamas.
Over the years Mom and Dad would enjoy many vacations with friends and relatives like the aforementioned Bices, Joe and Betty Moore, Betty and Bill Danylchuk, Ken & Elsie Stewart and of course Cathy and Hugh. They enjoyed a very full life.
Old age was not terribly kind to Mom or Dad with both suffering from dementia in their final years. Our family was never great huggers nor did we tell each other we loved them until later in life. But whenever I said goodbye to Mom, I would always give her a hug and kiss and tell her I love her. It was easy
to see that this meant a great deal to her and she would get very emotional.
Cathy and I went to see her this last Monday and when I got there, she held out her arms for me and pandemic be damned, I gave her a hug.
She lost her mother at the age of 5 and I lost mine at 67. I am so lucky to have had her around.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joanna Beryl Moore Dougherty October 30th 1928 May 20th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Sarnia, Province: Ontario